"The solution!" Jerome Bonaparte deliberately elongated his voice and looked at Cavour with a meaningful gaze, "It’s actually quite simple!"

"Your Majesty! Please give your indication!" Cavour replied to Jerome Bonaparte with a humble attitude ready to learn.

"Since you’re so worried that the Austrian Empire will invade, you can invite the French Army into the Kingdom of Sardinia!

In that case, the Austrian Empire won’t dare to act rashly!" Jerome Bonaparte calmly told Cavour.

After hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s suggestion, Cavour momentarily paused, showing a slight awkwardness on his face.

Jerome Bonaparte immediately understood that his solution greatly differed from what Cavour had in mind.

"What’s wrong? Is my method not good?" Jerome Bonaparte licked his lips, smiling as he responded to Cavour.

"Your Majesty!" Cavour remained silent for a moment, reorganizing his words to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your method can indeed deter the Austrian Empire!"

Before Cavour could continue, Jerome Bonaparte interrupted, "Then it’s decided!"

"Your Majesty, the involvement of the French Army in the Kingdom of Sardinia is too significant, a decision I can’t make alone!" Cavour replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Therefore, I would like to ask for more time!"

"Mr. Garibaldi, I’m in no rush!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged, leaning back comfortably in his chair, "This matter is originally an internal affair of your Kingdom of Sardinia, you’re always welcome!"

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty!" Cavour quickly expressed his gratitude to Jerome Bonaparte, then continued, "Well... I’ll be leaving now!"

With that said, Cavour hurriedly stood up to leave.

"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte also stood up, nodded, and shook hands with Cavour.

After Cavour left the study, Jerome Bonaparte’s smiling face turned especially cold, and he muttered to himself, "Cavour, that fellow, still hasn’t given up!

There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world!"

Then, Jerome Bonaparte summoned Bashirio, "Immediately find me a carriage, as simple as possible, and don’t bring the usual attendants!"

"Your Majesty, where are you going?" Bashirio immediately understood that the Emperor was about to meet someone secretly.

"I’m going to personally visit the Austrian Embassy!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Bashirio.

"Yes!" Bashirio promptly replied to Jerome Bonaparte and then turned to leave.

After a while, Bashirio reopened the door and responded respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, the carriage is prepared for you! Ready to depart at any time!"

"I see!" Jerome Bonaparte, smoking at the window, glanced at the half-burned cigarette in his hand, then walked over to the desk, tossed the cigarette into an aluminum ashtray, and left the study with Bashirio, heading to the side entrance of the Tuileries Palace.

Arriving at the side entrance, Jerome Bonaparte looked at the entirely black carriage at the steps below, nodding approvingly, "Bashirio, you’ve done well!"

"Your Majesty, it’s what I should do!" Bashirio humbly replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

Bashirio thoughtfully opened the carriage door for Jerome Bonaparte, who then sat inside.

Under Jerome Bonaparte’s orders, the carriage circled from the Tuileries Palace to the Louvre, then proceeded from the Louvre’s exit towards the Austrian Embassy.

The purpose of Jerome Bonaparte’s actions was to keep his movements more secretive.

Currently, within the upper echelons of society, everyone knew that Jerome Bonaparte preferred to "travel light," leaving through the Louvre to reduce the chances of being noticed.

The carriage departing from the Louvre’s wing moved along the north bank of the Seine River, then made several turns before finally arriving near the Austrian Imperial Embassy in France.

"Your Majesty! We’ve arrived!" The coachman softly said to Jerome Bonaparte inside the carriage.

After a moment, Jerome Bonaparte’s dissatisfied voice came from the carriage, "Didn’t I tell you, when I’m in this carriage, always call me Mr. Felix!"

"Your Majesty... No! Mr. Felix, please forgive me!" The coachman hurriedly replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Pay attention next time!" Jerome Bonaparte said as he got off the carriage.

Descending from the carriage, Jerome Bonaparte gave the coachman a couple of brief instructions and then directly walked towards the Austrian Embassy.

He soon reached the entrance of the Austrian Embassy, and standing in front of the door, Jerome Bonaparte gently knocked on it with his hand.

About half a minute later, the door of the embassy slowly opened, and the military attendant appeared before Jerome Bonaparte.

"You’re looking for..." The military attendant who opened the door was speechless upon seeing Jerome Bonaparte standing at the entrance.

"What’s the matter? Not welcome?" Jerome Bonaparte joked.

"Welcome! Warm welcome!" The military attendant anxiously stepped aside and enthusiastically invited Jerome Bonaparte into the embassy, "Your Majesty, please come in!"

Jerome Bonaparte entered the embassy, and the military attendant hurriedly closed the embassy door, then cautiously asked Jerome Bonaparte if there was any particular reason for his sudden visit.

"Can’t I visit without a reason?" Jerome Bonaparte asked half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"Of course you can!" The military attendant decisively replied, "The Austrian Embassy always welcomes you!"

"However, I do have a matter to discuss with your Ambassador Richard Metternich!" Jerome Bonaparte put away his smile and said seriously to the military attendant, "Is your ambassador here now?"

"Your Majesty, I will call for him immediately!" The military attendant said while inviting Jerome Bonaparte to sit on the sofa in the living room.

Then, he ordered the attendants in the embassy to serve nuts and tea to Jerome Bonaparte.

After completing all this, the military attendant went to the second floor to look for Ambassador Richard Metternich.

At that time, Ambassador Richard Metternich was working in the study on the second floor of the embassy. Upon hearing a knock, he looked up and said, "Come in!"

The military attendant entered the room and informed Richard Metternich of Jerome Bonaparte’s visit.

Upon hearing of Jerome Bonaparte’s arrival, Richard Metternich couldn’t help but reprimand the military attendant, "Why didn’t you immediately send someone to inform me when the Emperor entered the room?"

"Your Excellency, I..." The military attendant hesitated to speak.

"Never mind! Let’s not talk about it!" Richard Metternich put down his pen, got up, and left the study with the military attendant.

Led by the military attendant, Richard Metternich came before Jerome Bonaparte, who took a sip of tea and dangerously said to Richard Metternich, "The tea is good!"

"I’m glad you’re satisfied!" Richard Metternich complimented.

"Please, sit!" Jerome Bonaparte sat with his legs crossed like the host of the place, motioning for Richard Metternich to sit opposite him.

Richard Metternich followed Jerome Bonaparte’s instruction and sat down.

"You sit too!" Jerome Bonaparte said to the military attendant.

"I... Your Majesty, I don’t think that’s necessary!" The military attendant responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a restrained expression.

"Sit down when you’re told to! Don’t argue!" Jerome Bonaparte feigned impatience toward the military attendant.

"Yes!" The military attendant cautiously sat beside Richard Metternich.

Once both were seated, Jerome Bonaparte spoke again to Richard Metternich, "I hope the Austrian Empire can increase the pressure on the Sardinian Kingdom!" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Your Majesty, as far as I know, the Austrian Empire and Sardinian Kingdom are currently experiencing minor border conflicts. Increasing the pressure might spark a war between the two countries!" Richard Metternich responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Don’t worry, as long as you don’t formally declare war on the Sardinian Kingdom, there won’t be a war crisis!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled lightly and replied to Richard Metternich, "Does the Sardinian Kingdom dare to declare war against you?"

Richard Metternich immediately understood Jerome Bonaparte’s meaning. As long as the French Empire does not initiate war with the Austrian Empire, the Sardinian Kingdom can only swallow the bitter fruit alone.

"Your Majesty, what is your purpose in doing this?" Richard Metternich asked Jerome Bonaparte again.

"Savoy and Nice!" Jerome Bonaparte said lightly, "I assume Mr. Cavour is still considering how to preserve these two regions, so I must take them with your help!

Once the French Army enters the Sardinian Kingdom, they will have to agree even if they don’t want to!"

Richard Metternich pondered for a moment before responding to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, may I confirm once more, the French Empire only intends to take Savoy and Nice?"

"Of course!" Jerome Bonaparte answered without hesitation, "The reason for annexing Savoy and Nice is so the French Army can rely on the Alps for defense. The remaining areas of the Sardinian Kingdom are nothing but a burden to the French Empire!

Our goal is not to aid the Sardinian Kingdom!"